Hunt's last game.. or is it?

CHARLEVOIX - Four area basketball players - East Jordan's Kyle Daneff, Charlevoix's Jared Hunt, Boyne Falls' Josh Jarema and Harbor Light Christian's Mischa McCray - will be playing in the Class C/D game of the 26th annual Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan All-Star Festival at 3 p.m. Saturday at Brighton High School.

There were times this winter when Hunt, lying in bed, his ankle the size of a grapefruit, wondered if there would be any more basketball games at all. And it had been going so swimmingly. After playing three varsity seasons in Wolverine, Hunt transferred to Charlevoix, starting on the team that made the 2004 Class C state final.

"It was a big change," Hunt said. "I went from playing in front of 50 people to 11,000 at the state finals. At Wolverine, we'd walk the ball up and run the offense for a minute before we shot. In Charlevoix, they like to run and press. But we had such good leaders, like Scott Friske and Bryce Daly, that made the change easier."

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As a senior, he was doing it all for the Rayders.

"Jared is the most gifted offensive player I've coached in 21 years," Charlevoix coach Keith Haske said. "We changed our offense around him, something I've never done before. He's such a creative scorer, but he was also able to bring his teammates into it. That's the mark of a true point guard."

Charlevoix was 12-0 and Hunt was having an all-state campaign when he injured his ankle, missing the rest of the regular season.

"We were playing so well, and colleges were starting to show some interest," Hunt said, "so that was tough, and I couldn't do anything about it."

As well as Hunt was playing, as a 6-foot guard from Northern Michigan he was seen as largely generic, and replaceable, in the recruiting world.

"We were hoping to make another run in the tournament, and that's when you can get the attention from the college coaches," Haske said.

But Charlevoix lost to Harbor Springs in districts. Hunt played, but was far from 100 percent. Sliding back into basketball purgatory, until, apparently not everyone had forgotten him. Ferris State coach Bill Sall, fresh off an NCAA Division II tournament appearance, said he'd like to see Hunt play. And he liked what he saw, offering Hunt a spot on the team. A basketball career re-born.

"Jared can shoot, but we think he'll be able to play both guard spots for us," Sall said. "He's athletic enough to play our style, run and press."

"Ferris was one of the schools Jared had talked about wanting to play for originally," Haske said. "So it kind of came full circle."

"I know they're going to red-shirt two players, and it's up for grabs to see who those two are," Hunt said. "Red-shirting wouldn't be bad - but playing would be great."